We drove through tea plantations and saw ladies picking tea at the side of the road on our way to our next homestay, which was over the border into Tamil Nadu.
The third homestay was The Wilds at Northern Hay, another homestay on a coffee plantation, but this time on the edge of Mudumalai Forest. We were picked up by jeep as the road was rough!
We sat watching black faced langur monkeys playing in the garden.
We went for a plantation walk in the afternoon, a jeep safari in the early evening and a forest trek in the morning and we saw more deer, peacocks, wild boar, a giant squirrel, a flame-backed woodpecker, malabar and plum-headed paraqueets, a chestnut-headed bee-eater …
… and finally the back of a retreating elephant, but because we were on foot, it would have been dangerous to pursue him and he didn’t stop to have his pic taken!
Next stop, Ooty.
Our second homestay was Aranyakam, a homestay in a Keralyan bungalow surrounded by a coffee plantation. The veranda was a perfect spot to settle with a book.
After lunch we drove to Kanthampara waterfall where we went walking, and was pretty, but not as dramatic as it would be with more water flowing.
We also went for a walk down the narrow road, passed coffee bushes and also saw the beans drying.
Another sunset and another day done.
Next stop, maybe elephants …
Leaving Mysore, we were heading for four homestays over four nights.
We began our day with a 7am safari in a jeep round Muthanga National Park, but unfortunately the elephants eluded us and the most impressive wildlife was a giant squirrel, peacock and cheetal deer …
Next stop, coffee plantations.
We stayed, no expense spared, at The Park Lane Hotel … for £25/night, nice room, and bustling terrace restaurant with sliding roof and good food.
We climbed Chamundi Hill to the temple. According to legend, the demon Mahishasura was king of the area and was killed by the Goddess Chamundeswari after a fierce battle and there is a statue of him.
The temple might be very important religiously, but was singularly disappointing to view, but we were amazed at the huge numbers of people visiting, a bit like a rugby scrum.
On the way down was a Nandi bull statue, and we saw our first monkeys.
One afternoon we went to Brindavan Gardens which were laid out when the dam was built, backdrop apparently to many a Bolleywood movie, which were lovely to wander round, but we didn’t stay for the musical lightshow as the road back was full of potholes and we didn’t fancy it after dark.
Finally, we spent a lovely day nearby at Srirangapatum where the highlights were another of Tipu Sultan’s summer palaces, built of wood, with every inch covered in painted decoration, unfortunately no photos allowed, his tomb …
… and a Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, where we had a boat trip and saw crocs, bats, pelicans, storks, cormorants, spoonbills …
One evening, rather than eating at Park Lane, we went to the Tiger Trail at the Royal Orchid Hotel for dinner. The restaurant is set in an open courtyard with trees and twinkly lights and looks very pretty. Service was friendly but rather slow, but this was more than made up for by the food which was delicious.
We then set off on an 8 day tour by car heading south.
First stop was a 57ft statue of Gommateshvara on a hill at Sravanabelagola. Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate to perform Mahamastakabhisheka, a ceremony where the statue is covered in milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins, next to happen in 2018. We had to climb the 614 steps without shoes but could wear socks and there was a great view from the top.
The interiors of both these temples was also fabulous, each carved pillar being different, and with sculpted ceilings, but they were quite dark and hard to photograph.
After sitting on the plane for two and a half hours at Delhi, finally we took off and arrived in Bangalore in the evening (a delay certainly, but nothing like the Punjab Mail Train which was 17 hours late into Delhi earlier in the week with Lorraine and her husband from Spalding).
Bangalore feels a more modern city than Delhi from the bits we’ve seen, with familiar landmarks … and unusual signs!
We started on the trail of Banjamin and Katherine, firstly at Bangalore Palace, a victorian built gothic/tudor mansion which is home to the Mysore royal family, also the venue for B&K’s pre-wedding party in a huge flower adorned marquee, and film set for a Bollywood movie.
We then bumped into B&K again at St Mark’s Cathedral for the wedding, and caught a glimpse of Katherine in a meringue and the guests in stunning saris. The church was full of guests, with the same number again seated outside watching on a tv screen.
We also saw the Nandi Bull temple, built by the founder of Bangalore in the 16th century, with one of the largest Nandi statues inside … and nandi in Sanskrit means joyful …
… the Tipu Sultans Summer Palace …
… and the city market where the flowers are sold by the yard or the pound …
We arrived safely and spent two days in Delhi. The Homestay is great, and Meera has looked after us really well – cooked us dinner, taken us out for dosas and showed us where to shop!
As we have been to Delhi before, our sightseeing didn’t follow the usual route. Starting with the ‘new’, we went to the largest Hindu temple in the world which was completed in 2005 … the temple is supported by 148 elephants round the plinth, and there is also a robotic history of the guru and a Disney-style boatride of Indian history … Yes India can certainly do cheesy!!
… then a rickshaw ride around the Chandni Chowk market.
… and now we are off to Bangalore.
My husband Chris and I decided to go away to celebrate our two big birthdays which meant we needed to be away six weeks to take them both in … and since funds aren’t unlimited, where better to go when it’s chilly in England than Southern India.
Off Travelling Together 